China Promises Faster Climate Action; No One In Shitstain Admin Appears To Know WTF Is Going On

[hatrack]

China is pledging to accelerate its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of the Paris climate accord as the Trump administration sows confusion over its pledge to withdraw from the agreement. After a weekend meeting in Montreal of 34 environment ministers and climate ambassadors, China's special representative on climate change, Xie Zhenhua, said his government sees climate policies as both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity.

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It was reported Saturday that a U.S. official in Montreal had indicated the United States could remain in the Paris deal, but the White House issued a statement reiterating its intention to withdraw unless it could "re-enter on terms that are more favourable to our country." However, ministers in Montreal agreed that the Paris deal is "irreversible and non-negotiable," Ms. McKenna said at a concluding news conference on Saturday. She said the U.S. position on withdrawal appears unchanged, but added that the Trump administration is willing to engage other countries on climate issues, and "recognizes the economic opportunity of clean growth, including clean energy." Several ministers who attended the meeting said the U.S. delegation acknowledged that the Paris deal would not be renegotiated.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson added to the confusion on Sunday when he again appeared to suggest that the United States could remain in the accord, despite the insistence of the other parties that the terms would not be renegotiated. The administration is looking "for other ways in which we can work with partners in the Paris climate accord," Mr. Tillerson said on CBS's Face the Nation. "We want to be productive. We want to be helpful."

Mr. Trump's chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, is now overseeing the issue for the administration and is scheduled to meet on Monday in New York with Ms. McKenna and climate ministers from several other countries to discuss ways in which the United States can remain engaged.

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https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-strengthens-climate-pledge-as-white-house-creates-confusion/article36287198/

[Not Ruth]

1. China and the US want a deal?

They produce much of the climate change technology. Perhaps that has something to do with it.